WestJet says it’s offering ‘a new standard’ in pay but unclear how it compares to Air Canada

When it comes to wage increases, WestJet says it’s offering its flight attendants a 13 per cent pay hike in the first year, followed by 2.5 per cent in the second, third and fourth years of the contract.

Compare that to Air Canada’s arbitrated wage settlement last year, which granted junior flight attendants a lower-than-WestJet 12 per cent salary increase in the first year, but higher increases compared to WestJet’s offer in the following years: 3 per cent, 2.5 per cent, then 2.75 per cent.

Cumulatively, these are relatively close in terms of percentage increases, but they do not address what the union representing WestJet flight attendants has said is a pay gap between Canada’s biggest and second-biggest airlines.

CUPE has maintained WestJet flight attendants were starting at wages below Air Canada’s, with CUPE WestJet Component president Alia Hussain telling CBC News in mid-July that she and her members work for “the second-largest carrier in Canada, and we are among some of the lowest paid.”

And WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoe​nsbroech hinted to reporters back in July that he recognized that the previous contract could need “significant improvement” when it comes to wages.

“It was done in the middle of the pandemic, so there’s a lot of catch-up to be done because they fell behind inflation,” von Hoensbroech said.

Also worth noting? Air Transat flight attendants negotiated a cumulative 30 per cent wage increase over five years back in 2022.